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NASA DRYDEN AIRCRAFT, EXHIBITS AT EDWARDS AFB OPEN HOUSE OCT. 26

October 23, 2002

Release: 02-55

A variety of NASA research aircraft highlighted by the soon-to-fly Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 will be on display at the Dryden Flight Research Center exhibit during the Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show this Saturday, Oct. 26.

From NASA's venerable NB-52B "mothership" launch aircraft to the 12-foot-long X-43A hypersonic research vehicle, NASA's exhibit will highlight the cutting-edge flight research and technology development that occurs at NASA Dryden, the aerospace agency's premier center for atmospheric flight research and operations. The NASA Dryden exhibit will be housed in a 300-foot-square area in giant Hangar 1600 along the Edwards flight line.

NASA's Airborne Science Program will be prominent, with both Dryden's DC-8 flying science laboratory and a high-flying ER-2 earth resources aircraft on display. The X-45A unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) technology demonstrator, being developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Air Force and Boeing Phantom Works, will also be included in the NASA exhibit. NASA Dryden is hosting the X-45A flight validation program.

Several other exhibits showcasing Dryden's research capabilities and history will be interspersed among the NASA aircraft. These include exhibits focusing on the 30th anniversary of the F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire program, the record-altitude Helios Prototype solar-electric flying wing, the Western Aeronautical Test Range, a flight simulator and a turbine engine. In addition, several present and former NASA Dryden research pilots and engineers will be on hand to chat with the public attending the event.

Other NASA exhibits will be featured in flightline Hangar 1414, including two from Marshall Space Flight Center. One is an Access to Space exhibit focusing on NASA's Space Launch Initiative, while "Starship 2040" invites viewers to imagine what commercial space flight may be like four decades from now. In addition, another exhibit will highlight the NASA-Air Force "Team Edwards" Alliance.

The 2002 Edwards AFB Open House and Air Show will run from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Flying demonstrations are tentatively set to begin at 9 a.m., and will be highlighted by famed aerospace legends, retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager and retired Maj. Gen. Joe Engle, joining up in two F-15's high above historic Rogers Dry Lake at 10 a.m. to officially launch the event with resounding sonic booms as their aircraft exceed the speed of sound. Gen. Yeager, who became the first person to exceed Mach 1 in the X-1 rocket plane in October 1947, has said that this will be the last time he will fly an active military aircraft.

The event showcases the aircraft systems and capabilities of the Air Force Flight Test Center, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, the Air Force Research Laboratory Propulsion Directorate, Marine Aircraft Group 46 and other local and visiting units.